Rascal the Star Read Online Free PDF Page B

lights, watching. “That’s our extra-meaty kind.
     
    It’s very popular. Dogs love it! They go barkers for it! That’s our slogan!”
    Ellie opened her mouth, and then shut it again quickly. She hadn’t realized that someone from the dog-food company was watching.

    “Ellie!” Lucy whispered. She was looking a bit green. The smell of Barkers was very strong. “I’ve got an idea…”
    Five minutes later, Ellie smiled at Dan, and the dog-food man, with her fingers crossed behind her back. “I’m sure he’ll be fine now,” she explained. “He, er, just needed a wee. That’s all.”
    Dan gave her a slightly doubtful look, but he called everyone back for another take.
    Ellie watched hopefully as the actress put down the bowl of food for Rascal.

    The girls had begged the caterers for ham sandwiches, then they’d taken out all the ham and hidden it under the Barkers while everyone was gathered round muttering about the lightingagain. As a final touch, Lucy had rubbed ham all over the outside of the bowl, so that it would smell yummy to Rascal.
    “Look at that!” the dog-food man said triumphantly, as soon as they’d finished the shot. “Wolfing it down! I told you dogs love it.”
    Ellie smiled, hoping he wouldn’t spot Rascal tugging the bits of ham out from underneath the dog food…

Chapter Nine
Making a Splash
    Rascal’s final scene was the one they’d spent ages practising the day before. Lucy was confident throwing a ball for him to fetch now, and firm enough to take it out of his mouth when he brought it back to her. Sometimes he liked to hang on to it, and growl a little bit. But Ellie was sure that Lucy wouldn’t mind that after their practice.
    Rascal had had a bit of a rest while all the equipment was moved around for thenew shot, and he was feeling bright and bouncy and full of ham. He barked delightedly when he saw the ball in Lucy’s hand, and there were admiring murmurs from the crew as he skipped and danced around Lucy, looking like the happiest dog ever. Exactly what they needed for the shot. Ellie smiled proudly. Finally he was behaving himself!
    Lucy wasn’t meant to throw the ball very far, as there wasn’t a huge lot of space in the garden and they needed to be able to keep Rascal in the shot as he fetched it.
    The first couple of throws went too wide. Rascal happily fetched them anyway, but Dan was shaking his head.
    “Try moving back a bit,” he called to Lucy. “Mind the pond though!”
    The best part of the garden, Ellie thought, was the big fish pond in the middle. It had amazing fat koi carp swimming in it, which luckily Rascal hadn’t noticed or they wouldn’t have been able to get him to do anything.
    Lucy edged backwards carefully.
    “Lovely. Nice view of the pond behind.” Dan nodded happily, and Lucy tried again.
    It was a perfect throw. Too perfect, actually. Lucy lobbed the ball gently towards Rascal, in exactly the right place, just in front of him. Rascal gave a huge leap into the air, seized the ball in his teeth – and hurtled towards Lucy’s arms, scrabbling his paws and expecting her to catch him,just like Ellie usually did.
    But Lucy didn’t catch him. Ellie watched in horror as Rascal landed at her feet, and Lucy toppled over backwards, straight into the lily pond.

    Ellie ran to help the crew fish her out, hoping that she wasn’t hurt. What if she’d hit her head? But Lucy was fine – just wet and cold. Everyone crowded round her, fetching towels and fussing, and then she was hurried into the house to get dry.
    Ellie looked round at Dan, thinking she should go and apologize, but then she realized he was laughing. He was holding Rascal, who was licking his ear happily.

    There was a laptop set up, and Dan was watching the footage of Lucy falling in the pond, and he looked delighted.
    The man from the dog-food company was nodding. “Really funny. Just the impression we want. Loads of energy, and all because of Barkers dog food.”
    “Perfect.